Bonner

I have these oak veneer doors throughout, mixed with tiles, laminate and carpet floors. https://deantawood.co.uk/products/internal-doors/oak-doors/galway-interior-oak-door/ Personally I would avoid painted doors whether factory or DIY as they show marks.

Normally 22mm to baths. 10mm is pointless IMO, more expense and complication with little or no benefit. Make sure isolation valves are full bore.

Yes, we have a combination of solid floor and B&B. Due to cock up we ended up with a step but easily levelled up with additional 25mm insulation on the low side. Continuous screed throughout.

Just looked back at my application form. Since they ask for copies of your planning approval and drawings, I think you need to reflect details shown in these documents, in your application. So if your drawings show a workshop, that is what you need to declare. I can’t see anything in the rules which exclude a workshop, garages are clearly allowed so why not similar permanent structures? Sheds are excluded presumably because they are not considered permanent.

In my recent experience of VAT claim, they ask few questions. I would just put the SIPs on the materials list (no explanation is necessary). If they ask what they are for, then you can argue it’s part of the approved plans. As per the snip, you can claim for materials incorporated in the site and the list of allowable items rules out sheds but not workshops. There won’t be any issue with the ASHP, again no explanation needed unless they ask. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/vat-refunds-for-new-builds-if-youre-a-diy-housebuilder#goods-you-can-or-cannot-claim-for

+1 for big drawers rather than cupboards. Separate pantry is best for all the paraphernalia.

Are you buying a workshop kit or just materials? Contractor to build it? ASHP installation by self or contractor?

Depends where you are in the country but even if you have it redone, it may still need a lot of water to keep it green year round. If it bugs you so much, think seriously about a gravel garden with drought tolerant planting.

Lots of questions there and difficult to advise without knowing what this feature is. However if you are in England, you can move in before finishing the build and get building control completion without installing a non-structural feature. Planning enforcement may catch up with you sooner or later but could give you time to come up with a solution.

Varies between roller and Roman blinds, up to 50mm. Actually all the blinds cover the window head anyway, you lose a bit less window if your reveal is higher.

Likewise, just dot and dabbed on the block openings. Leaves 30-35mm of frame for me, excluding the opening window frame. The head is a bit deeper which suits us for blinds mounted in the reveals.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/vat-refunds-for-new-builds-if-youre-a-diy-housebuilder All the rules are here. Some contractors may ask for a copy your planning consent as proof. If they are still not convinced, tell them to talk to their accountant

The devil is in the detail, you pay 0% VAT on demolition and landscaping works which is approved in the planning permission. If your permission is limited to only part of the site, you cannot claim for costs associated with another part. Note, the works must be zero rated by the contractor.

We moved in 18 months before BC completion. Went through a broker to our ensure situation was fully understood and documented. Cost a bit more than standard house insurance.

Thanks and also glad I asked. Reviews are very mixed, I guess many people will be happy to see a simple picture showing cold spots. Having used commercial cameras at work, that wouldn’t be good enough for me.

How did you on with the Flir? I am looking at getting one, still on at the same price, is it worth the money?

I have also worked as a PM in industrial projects, I was shocked by standards of professional behaviour I encountered in house building. Presumably it’s different with large sites and major contractors but for one off jobs like self builds, many providers just don’t care, maybe assuming they won’t get more work from us. My appointed SE also disappeared after initial quotes, one site meeting and a preliminary schedule of works. He was also contracted to provide a PC certificate but failed to perform the first inspection. After many more attempts to contact him, I was forced to find another SE to take over.

I did … simply fitted restrictors similar to the link posted by @ETC which BC accepted.

Can’t you plug some of the holes so it drains to one point or at least one row of holes?

It drains from an outlet in the centre of the unit, seems to have a tray in the base which collect the condensate and drains to the outlet (Grant Aerona)

Mine drops into a small soak away, 4” pipe filled with gravel. Still overflows occasionally so would make it bigger.

Actually, I found last night’s quite depressing. The man’s motivation to prove himself against his father, at his age, putting his partner’s health at risk and spending £1M on something that Kevin said looked like a road side diner (or something like that). And in the end he didn’t even feel he lived up to his own measure.

Well done @thefoxesmaltings, great project congratulations

I used 75/80mm concrete screws to fix battens straight to block wall. Can’t comment how it works through insulation, suggest you test on a sample area.

Very easy DIY, as I did. Otherwise a joiner may charge for a days work, £250?